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September 4, 2007

G139: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3

Coco Crisp beat out a possible fourth inning-ending double play grounder, which enabled JD Drew, who had started the inning with a walk, to score the game's first run.

Jacoby Ellsbury followed with a two-run homer into the Boston bullpen (he also singled, stole a base and tripled, but, with a chance for the cycle, was left in the on-deck circle in the eighth). Julio Lugo and Dustin Pedroia both doubled and the Red Sox led 4-0.

Toronto answered in the top of the fifth. Aaron Hill singled and, with one out, John McDonald walked. After Vernon Wells fouled out, Matt Stairs cracked a three-run home run to right and the lead was down to 4-3.

Frank Thomas singled to start the Blue Jays sixth, but he was the last Toronto base runner of the night. (He was erased on a double play.) Kevin Youkilis's solo shot to dead center in the eighth was a little insurance.

Beckett was at 84 pitches through five innings -- and it was questionable as to whether Jeemer and Bot were available tonight. But Beckett got the Jays on 13 pitches in the sixth (97), 10 in the seventh (107), and 10 in the eighth (117). Papelbon pitched the ninth -- retiring the Jays in order on nine pitches (F9, 4-3, K looking).

Both starters faced more than 30 batters and threw more 117 pitches (I don't think the Sox have been involved in such a game this year):

Off to Jonah's soccer practice in a few minutes, so I will be joining you all later in the thread.

Here is a link to the picture s1c took of Lester warming before the game. Jonah and I are visible behind the fence above the Sox dugout. Pretty funny (too me at least).

Also, here are the pictures I took at the game. Nothing too spectacular, but I did get a picture of Coco making the spectacular sliding catch late in the game. It's a little blurry because I was using a zoom lens, but not too bad.

The Herald Insider is reporting that Clay will be used from the bull pen in structured outings. Francona and Theo are worried about his innings, another start is not ruled out but look for him to come in when the Sox are way ahead or way behind (at least that is what I am assuming).

Are you kidding? (Maybe you are. I can never tell sarcasm online!) We've been in first place for practically the entire season, we've had the best record in baseball for most of it. And Terry Francona doesn't want to get his Red Sox to the AL East title, the first time in more than a decade Joe Torre's Yankees haven't won it? He wouldn't be human. He wouldn't be a professional athlete. He must want it even more than we do.

Did you know there's a site that's reliving the '67 season, through the eyes of each of the contending teams? (Way more appropriate than '78, s1c, ha--since they're both 7 years and both years where we win division/league)

Yes, why just today, I went to a several Yankees blogs to tell Yankees fans in very direct terms that I do not think about the Yankees at all. In fact, I also lectured them on how to be a real Yankee fan. Not that I give the Yankees a first or second thought, of course.

The mechanic is a woman, this is Joss we are talking about, super strong women characters. The bad mf in the series and the movie is the a woman, and in the movie the one you don't want to mess with is a woman.

RS, I've been out in the living room scoring this game, trying to keep track of each pitch...

I don't know how you can do it and keep up with the game thread. I'm having a hard enough time leaving the table for even a second. I guess having more space in here at the computer would be necessary. Oi.

i direct this to the women present (and any interested men, of course)... do you remember johnny damon (spit!) as a royal or an A? he was amazingly good looking. to me ellsbury looks like an improved johnny damon from those days, similar look, but even hotter.

My most exciting live game(i.e. at Fenway) was the Mother's Day miracle. I had a sore throat the next day from all the screaming! Most exciting game(s) on TV: got to be the ALCS in 2004. Hearing Seaver strike out 20 back in 1970 was most exciting radio game. Can't say watching on the computer generates much excitement.

During Sundays game, LBj hit one to the base of the wall that was caught. Wasn't a high pop up and not quite a line drive, but by the time it was caught, LBJ was like a stride from second. He has speed to spare.

Ahh, poor L-girl! I saw Nolan Ryan pitch at Shea a few times back in my Mets days (before we moved to Boston in 75). He was amazing. Even when he didn't have the control, his speed was just unbelievable. Watching Pedro pitch at Fenway was also incredible. I have never seen an exciting game at the OTHER NY stadium....

Yes, Shea is awful. But I didn't know that then. After seeing games at Fenway and also at places like Camden Yards and PacBell in SF (which is what it was called when I was there in 2003), I realized just how bad Shea is for seeing a game.